Transmission-differential assembly



Sept. 9, 1952 w. HESCH, SR 2,609,703

TRANSMISSION-DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY Filed July 25 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 William Hess/r, 5r.

INVENTOR.

BY h m,

Sept. 9, 1952 w. HESCH, SR 2,609,703

TRANSMISSION-DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY Filed July 23, 1951 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 William Hesch, Sn

INVENTOR.

Sept. 9, 1952 w. HESCH, SR

TRANSMISSION-DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY Filed Jul 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 William Hesch, 5r.

INVENTOR.

BY mlfinwy 5% Patented Sept. 9, 1952 TRANSMIS SIGN-DIFFERENTIAL AS SEMBLY William Hesch, Sr., SantaFe, N. Mex., a ssignor to Bernadine'Hesch, Santa Fe, N. Mex.

Application July 23, 1951, Serial No. 238,138

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a transmission differential assembly and more specifically pertains to a gearing assembly especially adapted for use in a differential typetransmissio-n and which shall be capable of a wide variety of speed ratios while maintaining a positive driving connection between the driving and driven elements of the assembly.

The principal object of thisinvention is toprovide a gearing assembly capable of attaining a large number of speed ratios between the driving and driven members while maintaining a positive driving connection therebetween.

A still further object of theinvention is to provide a gearing assemblyin conformity with the preceding objectwhich shall be capable of a differential action between apair. of driven shafts simultaneously operated from a single driving shaft, while offering a wide variety of speed ratios therein. 1 3

Yet another objectof the invention is to provide a transmission differential gearing assembly wherein a minimum number of gears are employed and wherein the gearing arrangement is made as compact as possible. a

These, together with various ancillary features,

n-olaims. (clin -424.5)

and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent. as the following description proceeds, areaattained by the present invention,

a preferred embodiment of which has been illustratedby way of example 01 13 in-the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a spherical.

shown inits neutral or inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view takensubstantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2; r r

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4 l oflFigure 2 and showing more particularly the arrangement of l the driving and driven gears together with the intermediate gears disposed therebetween in neutral or inoperative position of the assembly .Figure 5lisafragmentarydetail view of a part of a's synchronizing and equalizing mechanism-1 for operating the adjustable intermediategears friction bearings assemblies 42".

of the invention, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the'section line 55 of Figure 3; i 1

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view=taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the-section line 6-6 of Figure 3; l

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail'view upon an enlarged scale of a portion of the invention; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of anel-ement of the assembly. it

Reference-is now made more specificallyto the accompanying drawings, wherein like nu-= merals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the numeral llldesignating gen: erally any conventional formof housing orcas ing in which the differential gearing assembly forming the subjeet of this invention is-enclosed, this housing being of anysuitable design and may conveniently,- as illustrated, beof'a spherical shape in the interest ofcompactness. Upon "the exterior surface of the housing l0 there is provided an enlarged "boss [2 inwhich is seated an anti-friction bearing assembly [4 of any conventional type, while a driving shaft" l6 Which-is providedwith a thrust collar l8 thereon is journaled in the bearing with a thrust collar bearing against'the same, the end-of the drive shaft extending into thegear' casing Ill) Conveniently, the drive shaft [6 may extend through a housing or bushing 20 having a flange 22 which" is detachably secured to'a complementary flange 24 0f theboss l2 as by fastening bolts 25a The casing l0 may beprovided with asuitable lubri cant draining opening 28 which may be inter nally threaded to receive a closure plug, whereby lubricant may be introduced to or removed from thecasing l0; l 1'; Upon opposite sides, and disposedin alignment with each otherand upon an axis whichis'perpendicular to that of the drive shaft [6, the casing I0 is providedwith a pairof laterallyen larged portions 39,- eachbf which is provided with" a chamber "32 extending laterally "f rom 'th'e spherical chamber within the casing l0" and is which enlargements are provided with aligned and oppositely extending tubular members 34 terminating in flanges 36and having partitions 38. The partitions 38 and fianges 3fi define int-Q ternal chambers 40 in which 'are-seated anti- Detachably secured, as by; fastening bolts 44,- are a air of tubular housings having flanges t8 complementary to the flanges 36; and; likewise provided with partitions therein. TheflangeAa and partition 50 of eacli' of tlie tubular housings 46 defines a chamber 52 which is complementary to the chamber 40, and an integral annular thrust bearing 54 upon a driven shaft 56 is received in the chamber 52 and bears against the bearing assembly 42.

These driven shafts '56 are provided with fixedly secured hub portions 58 which form the axial portions of hemispherical body 60 constituting driven gears as set forth hereinafter.

In a similar manner, the driving shaft I6 is secured to the hub portion 62 of a spherical body 64 constituting a driving gear as set forth hereinafter. 7

It is deemed preferable, although the invention is not limited to this arrangement, to dispose the driving shaft I6 and the two oppositely disposed driven shafts 56 in the same horizontal plane. In any event, the spherical gear 64 is disposed at the center of the casing I8 and the two driven hemispherical gears 60 are disposed concentric therewith.

I As will be readily apparent from Figures 2 and 3, the concave hemispherical inner surfaces of the gear bodies 68 are provided with spiral gear teeth 66. Conveniently, these gear teeth will extend over any desired portion of the area of the concave inner surface 1 of the hemispherical bodies 60 and are of a'spiral shape. At their midportions, that is, in the region adjacent to the axis of the shafts 56, the two bodies 60 are relieved or recessed as at 68 to provide an area devoid of teeth for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

The external surface of the spherical gear 64 is likewise-provided with the system of spiral teeth 10 as shown more clearly in Figure 1.

The spherical gear 64 has a series of teeth extending'from its north and south pole regions in dicated respectivelyby the numerals I2 and I4, the teeth extending spirally between these poles and upon the circumference of the spherical gear. The teeth are so arranged so that they are at all points along their length substantially equidistantly spaced from each other so that an intermediate gear, to be hereinafter described, may operatively mesh and engage the teeth 10 at any point along the circumference of the same from the north to the south pole of the gear during its rotation. Since the maximum circumference of this gear is at its equatorial portion, it is obvious that more teeth can be disposed about its equator than can be disposed about parallel circles adjacent its poles. For that reason, as shown in Figure 1, there are provided certain intermediate teeth 16 which do not extend entirely from pole to pole, but are interposed between longer teeth. The arrangement is such that in one suitable example, there are provided about sixty-six equally spaced teeth along the equator of the spherical gear, while'thepolar areas are provided with about sixteen teeth thereabout. In any event, however, it is essential that in any circle extending aboutthe spherical gear and in a plane parallel to the plane through the equator of the geargthat adjacent teeth shall be equidista'ntly spaced from each other.

The teeth 66 on the hemispherical gear 66 are similarly disposed so as to providethe same equidistant spaces between consecutive teeth. In addition, however, the teeth 66 upon opposite sides of the recessed bore portion 68 which is free of teeth are reversely spiraled for a purpose which will be subsequently apparent.

v In; order to transmit power and torque from thedrive shaft l6 and the driving spherical gear 64 thereon to the driven shafts 56 and their driven hemispherical gears 66 thereon, an intermediate gear assembly is provided which is continually in mesh with the exterior surface of the spherical gear and with the interior surface of the hemispherical gears.

As will be more readily apparent from Figure 3, the casing I0 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed bosses "I8 and 80, the former extending internally from the smooth spherical exterior of the casing I8, and the latter protruding regularly outwardly therefrom to provide a bearing recess 82 having an anti-friction bearing assembly 84 therein which is retained as by a bearing cap or retainer plate 86. The axis of the bosses I8 and is disposed in a plane which is perpendicular to that of the axis of the shafts 56 and of the axis of the shaft I6. It will thus be seen that the axes of the drive shaft I6, the driven shafts 56 and the bosses I8 and 80 are mutually perpendicular and are disposed diametrically of the spherical casing I0.

An adjusting shaft 88 is journaled in the boss 80, extending through the anti-friction bearing assembly 84 thereof, and into the interior of the gear casing I6 between the adjacent rims of the hemispherical gear 60 and into close proximity to the spherical surface of the gear 64. Upon its inward extremity, the shaft 88 has fixedly secured thereto an arcuate band 90 constituting one of a pair of carriers for the intermediate gear assembly, the other end of this band being mounted upon a stub axle 92 journaled in the opposite boss 18. Upon oscillation of the shaft 88, it will therefore be seen that the carrier member 90 will possess an arcuate movementabout the center of the spherical gear 64 and between the complemental spherical surfaces of the gear 64 and one of the hemispherical gears 60. The second arcuate band 96 is provided disposed oppositely .to and similar to the band 90, and which has its extremities journaled and freely rotatable upon the shaft 88adjacent to the end of the band 90 thereon, and the stub axle, 92 adjacent to that end of the band 90 which rests upon this axle.

The second arcuate carrier member 96 is disposed in a similar manner between the spherical gear 64 and the other of the hemispherical gearsfill.

Fixedlysecuredto the interior surface of the spherical casing I0 adjacent to the adjusting shaft 88 is a mounting bracket 98.v This mounting bracket is provided with a stub axle I 80 upon which is freely rotatably journaled .a gear I02 forming the hub portion of a curved lever I04.

As shown more clearly in Figure 5, the hub portion I02 is provided with external gear teeth I86 extending throughout any desired portion of its circumference, which .teeth are continuously in mesh with a complementary gear I08 which is fixedlyrsecured to the adjustingshaft 88.

As will be now morevreadily apparent from Figure 5 and from the somewhat diagrammatic showin of Figure 6, the carrier member 96 is provided with elongated slot H6 in which is slidably received'a pin I I2 carried by the lever I04.

It will therefore be apparent that as the shaft 86 is oscillated, it will-positively and directly cause oscillatory motion of the carrier member 90, and through the gear connection I 68, I62 and the connecting lever I84, pin lIz andslot III), will cause simultaneous oscillatory motion of the carrier section 96. Thus, the movement of the shaft 88 will simultaneously cause the two carrier sections 96 and 96 to move toward and from each other.

Mounted upon thesa carrierisectionsm in .a man:

neriset for thihereinafter areintermediate-gears: whichli are l continuouslyiin meshi rwithr. the sphere ical gear Stand the :pain-of complementary hem-:-

driving. gear; and :towardand/orrfrom: the axis of rotation of the hemispherical drivenigears and upon either, sidezof the same. This: movement will ,thussimpart :varying: gear .ratios between: the drivinggearr Shandatheidrivenrirgear tfifliwhile maintaining at .talliitimes,": by lvirtuecof; the: .con stant is of l the gear 1.: teeth; .a a positive 1.: mechanical connections. between the: driving and driven shafts. L

As willlzrbe apparent i from: aFig'ure t lji in com junctiontlwith Figure: 3, each! 50f thelacarriers. 90

and- 8Side -provided at its imidptortion with a rece tangular hollow frame i l l4,i.which overlies and is mmovablex over: the equatorial section: of the spherical Lgeartfidi' Secured. in this: frame "is an. arcuate axle IG, see Figures'81'andf7jwhose .op-

posite extremities H'BFare non-rotatably secured in opposite sides of the frame H4. The arcuate axle H5 lies upon" thearmof the carrier 90 or Bit-with which the same is-associated:

Journaled upon the axle H6-vand1withinthe rectangularframe .l Mineach of thecarriers, as by an anti-friction bearing assembly I20, is an intermediate gear I22 which-is yieldingly retained" atthe midportion of-the. axle I I 6 as-by compression springs-124mopposite sides of the gear and which springs abut against the adjacent walls of the rectangular frame. By this means, the intermediate gears I22 are resiliently held at the midportion of the carrier members and thus are yieldingly held in a position for equatorial movement about the spherical gear upon oscillation of their carriers as set forth hereinbefore.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that rotation of the driving spherical gear 64 is imparted to the pair of hemispherical driven gears 60 through the pair of intermediate or idler gears I22. These gears are provided with spiral or helical threads for driving engagement with the corresponding threads of the gears 64 and 60. From the foregoing, it is thought that the operation of the device will now be readily apparent. When the intermediate gear assembly is disposed in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, it is evident that although the intermediate gears are continuously rotated by the spherical gear 64, they do not impart motion to the gears 61) since they are in substantial registry with the relieved or recessed portions 68 previously mentioned. However, upon oscillation of the adjusting shaft 88, the intermediate gears are moved so as to engage either of the reversely threaded portions of the gears 60. It will be noted that the intermediate gears simultaneous- Regardless of the direction of rotation imparted to the driven shafts, it will now be apparent "'gthat;..variousl;rspeed ratioscimaycb'e ,given thereto and: to 1; both: of: the idrivem shafts::;56 v.

simultaneously-1, by the above described adjust:

ingsr ands.synchronizingic mechanism; lmm'ediateliygafter. the intermediate gears .leave zihe neutral position :in Figures 53. :and- 4,; it "will :-.be apparent that thexmaximum;gear;:ratio isrlobe tained: between the; drivingltgearsfi lv and; :the =in-:-:- termediate gears gears engagexthe drivinggear ;uponi the.-equator oftfthez drivings' gear: At itheftisamez, time; the maximum driving: ratio. ,r is. established .between thgv intermedia-te gears tand the; driven :gears 60, sinceutherjintermediate gearsnengage thewlatter adiacenttthen most central or: axial portion .of the driven ears. As:;the.:.intermediate gears are moved. arcuately .toward the :poles :of; the :drivinggear, itiisgevi'dent ;that.:this' ,zgeararatio'isi lessened untilat the ;;poles :1 the minimum ratidaisziestabe lisl'iedzz, l

lt-rzshould be observed jthat when qthe z above described rand illustrated: mechanism; is :gutilized in'ia, differential "assembly, the; relative increase incspeeclzof :one :of' the drivenishafts 56 compared toitheaothen will tend to producewa;relatively greater. .torque ;upon ;the :ccrrespondingintermea diate,-,gear;engaging :thel drivlengear 60 of that shaft, which:.torque.= will cause. a; sidewisel displacement of .the gear uponitsxaxle. I lfi seesFige ure-z'l, until the gear is disposed in. the relieved portion 68, thereby permitting that shaft terrotate until", the speedsiof. rotationsof. the. two

shafts ififizzare agairr equalized. This "construe-- tion is,:1 or; course, extremely: advantageous 11 as when the deviceisutilizedias a: differential mechanismr of an automotive vehicle :or the like. a

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A gearing assembly comprising driving and driven shafts, a spherical gear on the driving shaft and a hemispherical gear on the driven shaft, an intermediate gear engaging and interposed between the above mentioned gears, means for moving said intermediate gear relative to said driving and driven gears upon an are which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drivlng gear.

2. A gearing assembly comprising driving and driven shafts, a spherical gear on the driving shaft and a hemispherical gear on the driven shaft, an intermediate gear engaging and inter-- spherical and hemispherical gears have equidistantly spaced teeth thereon whereby the arcuate movement of the intermediate gear will establish various speed ratios between the driving and driven shafts.

l22::; since; the intermediate 4'. A transmission differential assembly comprising a driving 'shafthaving a spherical driving gear thereon, a pair of aligned driven shafts on opposite sides of said spherical gear and perpendicular to said driving gear, a hemispherical driven gear on each driven gear disposed concentric to said spherical gear, an idler gear assembly operatively interposed between said spherical and hemispherical gears.

.5. A transmission differential assembly comprising a driving shaft having a spherical driving gear thereon, a pair of aligned driven shafts on opposite sides of said spherical gear and perpendicular to. said driving gear, a hemispherical driven gear 'on each driven gear disposed concentric to said spherical gear, an idler gear assemblyoperatively interposed between said spherical and hemispherical gea'rs,'said spherical and hemispherical gears having spiral teeth extending from pole to pole of said gears, said teeth beingequidistantly spaced throughout'their lengths. 6'. The combination of claim 5 wherein said idler gear assembly comprises a pair of idler gears, said idler gears each engaging a hemispherical ge'ar'and said spherical gear, means mounting each idler gear for movement about an axis perpendicular to that of the driving and driven shafts and in an arcuate path on the surface of the spherical gear from pole to pole thereof for varying the ratio between the driving and driven shafts.

7. The combination of claim 6 including connecting means for causing simultaneous and equal movement'of said mounting means.

- 8. A'transmission assembly comprising a. driving shaft having 'a' spherical driving gear thereon, a pair of aligned driven shafts perpendicular to said driving'shaft and'having hemispherical driven gears complementary to said driving gear, a pair of arcuate carriers interposed between the driving and driven gears and oscillatable upon an axis which is perpendicular to those ofthe driving and driven shafts, intermediate gears journaled on said carriers and engaging said driving'and driven gears, means for simultaneously imparting oppositely directed oscillatory motion to said carrier.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said driven gears have central relieved toothless portions and reversely threaded portions on opposite sides of said relieved portions.

10. The combination of claim -8 wherein said carriers have open frames at their midportions, said intermediate gears being rotatably journaled and positioned in said open frames.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein said carriers have open frames at their midportions, said intermediate gears being rotatably journaled and positioned in said open frames, resilient means yieldingly urging said intermediate gears centrally of said open frames.

' WILLIAM HESCH, SR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,393,973 Ross Oct. 18, 1921 1,393,974 ROSS Oct. 18, 1921 

